Funeral services for Denena Mathis Brown, 81, of Herndon, formerly of Trigg County, were held on Friday, March 15, 2013, at Hughart and Beard Funeral Home in Hopkinsville. The Revs. Dr. Don Mathis and Dr. William B. Taylor officiated. Burial followed in the Powell Cemetery in LaFayette. Hughart and Beard Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Denena Brown died of natural causes at 4:35 p.m. on Monday March 11, 2013, at her daughters home.

She was born on June 18, 1931, in Trigg County to the late Alvurn Caleb Mathis and Beatrice Miles Mathis.

Denena retired as the cafeteria manager at South Christian Elementary School after 42 years. She was a member of Little River Baptist Church and attended LaFayette Methodist Church and Hillcrest Baptist Church. She was a member of the Food Service Association. She was a founding member of the Herndon Volunteer Fire Department.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Conway Brown, Sr.; her son, William C. Brown, Jr.; and her daughter, Martha Ellen Brown.

She is survived by three brothers, C.A. Mathis, Jr. of Hopkinsville, Jimmy Mathis of Herndon and Dr. Don Mathis of Bowling Green; two sisters, Margery Henderson of Burkesville and Sherry Brege of Atlanta, Ga.; one son, Robert W. Brown of Herndon; three daughters, Mrs. Gary “Betty” Jane Sisk of Dawson Springs, Mrs. Steve “Reta” Williamson of Hopkinsville and Debbie Brown Pryor of LaFayette; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.